Removable divider for food container

ABSTRACT

The present invention is for a divider for use with a food package, wherein the divider is manufactured from inexpensive coated paperboard and is of a simple one-piece construction. More particularly, a divider according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is formed from a one-piece, foldable blank of paperboard material, which is folded in half and secured onto itself so as to form a two-ply, reasonably stiff construction. The divider is shaped and dimensioned to fit within a food container, which may preferably have a circular cylindrical shape, so as to bisect same and define two separate interior regions thereof. In addition, the divider includes a center portion wherein the paperboard material is not adhered onto itself, so as to allow the formation of a ring-shaped, cup-holding portion suitable for positioning and retaining a separate container within the package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to disposable food containers constructedfrom paperboard materials. More particularly, the present inventionrelated to disposable food containers constructed from paperboardmaterials, wherein a food container is provided with a removable dividerfor defining a plurality of discreet compartments within an interiorspace of the container.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

Food containers constructed from paperboard materials are common andtypically include a tray having a bottom wall, upstanding sidewalls anda removable lid for selectively enclosing hot or cold food therein. Forexample, fast-food take-out fried chicken restaurants typically packagea plurality of hot chicken food products within a “bucket”, which isconstructed from coated paperboard. Although the paperboard is notsufficient for long-term storage of the food stored therein, it issufficient to keep the food hot and to protect it from outsidecontamination during the short period of time during which an end-usertransports the food to his/her home.

It is becoming more common to purchase individual-sized complete meals,which might include meat, potatoes, vegetable and dessert. Similarly, itis becoming common for an end-user to purchase a variety of similar foodproducts, rather than a large quantity of only one type of food product.For example, an end-user may wish to purchase a half order of standardfried chicken and a half order of barbeque chicken. To conservepackaging materials and to provide a simple package for the end-user totransport the individual half-orders to his/her final destination, therestaurant may wish to package both half-orders within a single package,yet while at the same time, keeping the half-orders separate from oneanother so that they do not commingle within the package.

It also is desirable to include within the package a separate containeradapted for holding sauces, gravies, liquid or liquid-type foodproducts, for use with the food products otherwise stored within thepackage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a divider for use with a food package,wherein the divider is manufactured from inexpensive coated paperboardand is of a simple one-piece construction. More particularly, a divideraccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is formedfrom a one-piece, foldable blank of paperboard material, which is foldedin half and secured onto itself so as to form a two-ply, reasonablystiff construction. The divider is shaped and dimensioned to fit withina food container, which may preferably have a circular cylindricalshape, so as to bisect same and define two separate interior regionsthereof. In addition, the divider includes a center portion wherein thepaperboard material is not adhered onto itself, so as to allow theformation of a ring-shaped, cup-holding portion suitable for positioningand retaining a separate container within the package.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a food container,preferably in the form of a truncated (i.e., “short”) bucket forsingle-serve take-out meals. A food container according to the presentinvention allows different food items to be carried in separatecompartments within a single package for single meal offerings or forvariety pack offerings. According to one aspect of the presentinvention, a removable internal divider is provided within the packageto hold securely in an upright position a secondary container, such as asauce cup, etc., in a generally-fixed position within the package.Either square, circular, oval, or any other shaped, configuration ofpackage may be used.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a divideraccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention separatesan interior space of the package into two equal sized primary foodcompartments and an additional center area which is adapted to support asecondary food container, such as a sauce cup, drink cup or the like.The divider centers the secondary food container and verticallystabilizes it within the primary package, to reduce or eliminate thetendency of the secondary food container to spill its liquid contents.The functional aspects of the present invention are achieved at least inpart by a single scored and die-cut blank of coated or uncoatedpaperboard or polymeric material, folded and sealed to itself. Since themain divider portions are folded back upon themselves and sealed, thesheet thickness of the base material can be reduced. The divider laysflat after folding and sealing are complete, so it can be economicallypacked for storage or shipment.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from thedescription which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out therein, aswell as by those instrumentalities, combinations and improvementsthereof which are not described expressly therein, but which would beobvious to those of ordinary and reasonable skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention will be had upon reference tothe following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which like reference numerals represent like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a food container with which adivider according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention isshown in spaced relation to the components thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food container shown in FIG. 1,wherein the divider of FIG. 1 is shown positioned within an interiorspace of the container;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank used to form the divider shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the blank shown in FIG. 3, shownpartially folded for forming the divider of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the divider of FIG. 1, formed by folding theblank of FIG. 3, as shown;

FIG. 6 is an end section view of the divider of FIG. 5, shown alongsection line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end section view of the divider of FIG. 5, shown alongsection line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the divider of FIG. 1, wherein a centerportion thereof is shown in a flat orientation;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the divider of FIG. 1, wherein a centerportion thereof is shown in an arcuate orientation; and,

FIG. 10 is a front view of the divider of FIG. 1, wherein a centerportion thereof is shown in an arcuate orientation, and wherein a cup isshown positioned within a circular opening defined by thearcuately-oriented center portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a divider 10 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention for use with an open-topcontainer 40, which may take the form of a generally-circular traydefined by an annular sidewall 42 and a circular bottom wall 44. Boththe sidewall 42 and the bottom wall 44 are formed from a flexiblematerial, such as coated or uncoated paperboard, which may be cut intoblanks and then shaped using conventional container-forming equipment.For example, the sidewall 42 may be formed from a sheet of coatedpaperboard, which is die cut to define a generally flat (but arcuatelyshaped) blank (not shown) wrapped around a cylindrical mandrel (notshown) and then sealed onto itself to define a generally-continuousarcuate shape. Conventional forming and sealing equipment may be used,which might result in the formation of a longitudinal seam (not shown)extending lengthwise along the sidewall 42.

The sidewall 42 may take any form. For example, the sidewall 42 may beformed from a single blank of paperboard material such that a 1-ply,so-called “single wall”, construction is provided. An outer surface ofthe sidewall 42 may be coated so as to provide a surface suitable forprinting, for example, to provide informational graphics, advertising orother promotional information to the end-user. Alternatively, a separatesheet, sometimes referred-to as a “wrap” (not shown), may be wrappedaround the outer surface of the sidewall 42 and affixed thereto (suchas, by use of an adhesive), in which case, the sidewall 42 itself neednot have a surface suitable for printing.

Alternatively, the sidewall 42 may be formed from two separate blanks ofpaperboard material such that a 2-ply, so-called “double wall”,construction is provided. Both single and double wall constructions areknown, as well as methods for forming same, and the divider 10 accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention is suitable for usewith either. If a double wall construction is used, spacing or otherthermal insulation devices may be positioned between the individualwalls so as to slow the rate at which heat enters/leaves the container40. An upper end 41 of the sidewall 42 may include a rolled lip (notshown), for example, to provide a finished surface, to provide a meansfor securing a lid thereto or to provide a mechanism by which multiplewalls of the sidewall 41 may be joined together.

The bottom wall 44 preferably has a simple disc-like, circular, flatshape sized to cover a lower end of the sidewall 42, which (as describedabove) has been formed into a generally-cylindrical shape. A peripheraledge (not shown) of the bottom wall 44 is affixed the lower end of thesidewall 42, preferably to form a seal therebetween sufficient toprevent the leakage of liquids from within the container 40. Forexample, the bottom wall 44 may include a down-turned annular leg (notshown) which is pinched between an up-turned lower end (not shown) ofthe sidewall 42, using conventional constructions and formingtechniques. As shown, the sidewall 42 preferably has a modest inwardtaper top-to-bottom, such that a diameter of container 40 at the openupper end thereof is slightly larger than a diameter of the container atthe closed lower end thereof.

The container 40 further may include a generally-circular lid 46, whichis configured to define a removable cover for the tray (defined by thesidewall 42 and the bottom wall 44) so as to enclose food (not shown)within an interior space 45 defined by the sidewall 42, bottom wall 44and lid 46. Lid 46 may include a conventional flange (not shown) whichis sized to snap-fit over the open upper end of the sidewall 42.Alternatively (and preferably), lid 46 is sized to fit within thesidewall and to be frictionally engaged therewith so as to inhibit thelid 46 from inadvertently falling therefrom. The sidewall taper assistsin this regard, as the diameter of the sidewall 42 decreases fromtop-to-bottom such that the lid 46 is inserted into the open upper endof the sidewall 42 until the lid 46 frictionally engages same. A smallgroove (not shown) may be provided in the inner surface of the sidewall42, into which the outer peripheral edge of the lid 46 is seated andretained thereby. Separate devices, such as clips, tape, elastic bandsor other fastening devices may be used to retain the lid 46 onto theupper end of the sidewall 42 for the purposes described herein.

Lid 46 may include one or more cutouts 47 in the peripheral edgethereof. Cutouts 47 provide vent holes, for example, if heated food isheld within the container 40. In addition, cutouts 47 provide “thumbholes” into which the end-user may insert his thumbs (or another object)for the purpose of removing the lid 46 from the sidewall 42.

Cup 50 may be provided for positioning within the interior space 45 ofthe container 40. Cup 50 preferably is of a conventional construction,formed from coated or uncoated paperboard material, as described abovewith respect to container 40. Obviously, cup 50 is smaller (both indiameter and in height) than container 40 so as to fit within theinterior space 45 of the container 40, and is adapted for containingtherein sauces or other liquids or liquid-type foodstuffs. Cup lid 52 isprovided to sealingly fit over an open upper end of the cup 50. Anyconventional construction to form a sealed cup with a removable lid maybe used. Alternatively, cup lid 52 may be incorporated into containerlid 46 such that fitting container lid 46 over the open upper end of thecontainer 40 simultaneously fits cup lid 52 over the open upper end ofthe cup 50.

Divider 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventionincludes a center, ring-shaped portion 12 adapted to hold cup 50 thereinand upstanding wing portions 14, 18 which extend from ring-shapedportion 12 and is adapted to divide the interior space 45 of thecontainer 40 into two or more interior regions, as described in greaterdetail below. Divider 10 preferably is formed from a one-piece blank offoldable material, such as coated or uncoated paperboard. Divider 10 canbe seen to be a cylinder (defined by the ring-shaped portion 12)bisected by a generally-flat, generally-planer rectangular sheet(defined by the wing portions 14, 18, which are generally co-planar).Outermost edged 14 a, 18 a of the wing portions 14, 18 are tapedtop-to-bottom so as to follow the generally-tapered inner surface of thecontainer sidewall 42, when positioned therein, as will be described ingreater detail below.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, divider 10 is sized to fit within theinterior space 45 of the container 40 so as to bisect the interior space45, thereby defining first and second interior regions 45 a, 45 b,respectively. Preferably, wings 14, 18 extend the full depth of theinterior space 45, although wings 14, 18 may extend only over a portion(preferably nearer the bottom wall 44) of the depth of the interiorspace 45. The height of the wings 14, 18, then, can be used to determinewhether first and second regions 45 a, 45 b are either completelyseparate from one another or only partially separate from one another.Divider 10, however, preferably extends across the entire interior space45, between opposing inner surfaces of the sidewall 42, along a diameterthereof.

Alternatively, divider 10 may be configured to form a chord with respectto the generally-circular interior space 45 of the container 40, inwhich case, divider 10 does not bisect the interior space 45, rather,divider 10 creates two or more regions of unequal size, area and/orvolume. Cup 50 can be seen to fit within the ring-shaped portion 12 suchthat cup lid 52 is accessible to the end-user and may be removed fromthe cup 50 without removing the cup 50 from it position within thering-shaped portion 12 of the divider 10 or without removing (orotherwise moving, reconfiguring or adjusting) the divider 10 from withinthe interior space 45 of the container 40.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a blank B for forming the divider 10 (FIG. 1)is constructed from single- or multiple-ply, coated or uncoatedpaperboard material having sufficient thickness, stiffness and physicalproperties to permit to perform as described herein. Although the blankB is formed preferably from die-cutting same from a larger paperboardsheet, blank B may be formed from any material and through any formingor manufacturing technique that results in a divider 10 product asdescribed herein. Preferably, blank B is of a generally-rectangularshape having a main foldline 60 extending along one direction which maybe, as shown, along a longer, lengthwise, direction of the blank B.Foldline 60 separates blank B into first and second panels 62, 64,respectively, which may be folded one-over-the-other such that firstpanel 62 lies over second panel 64 and is secured thereto, such as, forexample, by an adhesive or other fastening device, such as staples,clips or the like.

End edges 62 a, 64 a and 62 b, 64 b preferably are tapered inwardly fromfoldline 60 to side edges 62 c, 64 c, respectively, such that alengthwise dimension of the blank B is greater along the foldline 60than along either side edge 62 c, 64 c. The purpose of the taper in endedges 62 a, 64 a and 62 b, 64 b is to form tapered ends 14 a, 18 a ofthe divider wings 14, 18, respectively, when the first and second panels62, 64, respectively, are folded one-over-the-other, as described aboveand for the purposes described herein.

Rectangular cutout 70 is provided in the center of the blank B,interrupting foldline 60, and is generally symmetrical about foldline60. Lines of weakening 72, preferably in the form of scorelines, oralternatively in the form of embossed lines, perforation lines, fullcutlines or partial cutlines. Lines of weakening 72 extend from cutout70, on either side thereof, towards the side edges 62 c, 74 c of theblank B and may be continuous therebetween or extend only over a portionof the space between the cutout 70 and the respective side edges 62 c,64 c of the blank B. As shown, lines of weakening 72 are generallyperpendicular to the foldline 60 and are generally parallel to oneanother, although lines of weakening 72 may form acute or obtuse angleswith one another, or with foldline 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, blank B is shown in partially-folded (FIG.4) and fully-folded (FIG. 5) configurations so as to define divider 10.Specifically referring now to FIG. 4, blank B is folded about foldline60 such that second panel 64 is made to lie over first panel 62, andpreferably adhesively secured thereto. Because panels 62, 64 preferablyare symmetric about foldline 60, end edges 62 a, 64 a, end edges 62 b,64 b and side edges 62 c, 64 c generally line up adjacently with oneanother. In this manner, when panels 62, 64 are in an overlyingrelationship relative to one another, adjacent edges 62 a, 64 a of blankB define end 18 a of divider 10 and adjacent edges 62 b, 64 b of blank Bdefine end 14 a of divider 10. Similarly, opposing edges of cutout 70are made to overlie one another when panels 62, 64 are in overlyingrelationship to one another so as to define a step-shaped cutout recess75 projecting inwardly into the divider 10 from foldline 60. Step-shapedcutout recess 75 is sized to permit cup lid 52 to be positioned thereinwhen the cup 50 is positioned within the ring-shaped portion 12, as willbe described in greater detail below.

Panels 62, 64 are secured to one another generally in regions designatedby reference numeral 76, but not in the region over which lines ofweakening 72 are provided. Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 8and 9, it can be seen that because panels 62, 64 (FIG. 4) are notadhered to one another within the ring-shaped portion 12, the individualpanels 62, 64 can be separated from one another so as to form agenerally annular shape, wherein lines of weakening 72 are provided forthe purpose of assisting the bending of the panels 62, 64 so that theycan assume a generally circular (or annular) shape, as shown clearly inFIG. 9. Because panels 62, 64 are adhered to one another within regions76, panels 62, 64 remain affixed to one another, even when the portionsthereof within the lines of weakening 72 are separated to formring-shaped portion 12.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference toone or more preferred embodiments thereof, it is not the intention ofthe applicants that the invention be restricted to such detail. Rather,it is the intention of the applicants that the invention be defined byall equivalents, both suggested hereby and known to those of ordinaryskill in the art, of the preferred embodiments falling within the scopehereof.

1. A divider for use with a container, comprising: a first panel; asecond panel foldably connected to said first panel; said first andsecond panels each having one or more lines of weakness within a centralregion thereof; said first and second panels being secured to oneanother at one or more regions outside said central regions thererof;and, said first and second panels each having a cutout within saidcentral region thereof.
 2. The divider according to claim 1, whereinsaid one or more lines of weakness are approximately parallel with oneanother.
 3. The divider according to claim 1, wherein said first andsecond panels are foldably connected by at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of a fold line, a score line, a perforatedline, a full cut line, a partial cut line, and an embossed line.
 4. Thedivider according to claim 1, wherein said first and second panels aresecured by an adhesive at one or more regions outside said centralregions thererof.
 5. The divider according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second panels are foldably connected by at least one memberselected from the group consisting of a fold line, a score line, aperforated line, a full cut line, a partial cut line, and an embossedline; and each of said first and second panels comprise end edges thatare tapered inwardly towards the central region from at least one memberselected from the group consisting of a fold line, a score line, aperforated line, a full cut line, a partial cut line, and an embossedline.
 6. The divider according to claim 1, further comprising astep-shaped cutout recess located in a top edge of said divider.
 7. Acontainer, comprising the divider according to claim
 1. 8. The containeraccording to claim 7, further comprising at least one side wall todefine an interior space; and at least one bottom wall.
 9. The containeraccording to claim 8, further comprising a lid.
 10. The containeraccording to claim 8, wherein said divider is positioned within saidinterior space of said container such that said interior space isseparated into at least two portions, one of said portions being anarticle-receiving portion; and each of said first and second panelscomprise end edges that are pushed inwardly towards said central regionsuch that said one or more lines of weakness within said central regionbulge outwardly towards said at least one sidewall thereby providingsaid article-receiving portion.
 11. The container according to claim 10,wherein said article-receiving portion is shaped to receive a cup. 12.The container according to claim 10, wherein said divider comprises atop edge and said each of said first and second panels comprise endedges that are tapered inwardly towards said central region from saidtop edge.
 13. The container according to claim 10, wherein said one ormore lines of weakness are approximately parallel with one another. 14.The container according to claim 10, wherein said first and secondpanels are foldably connected by at least one member selected from thegroup consisting of a fold like, a score line, and a cut line.
 15. Thecontainer according to claim 14, wherein said divider comprises a topedge ; and said at least one member selected from the group consistingof a fold like, a score line, and a cut line is positioned along saidtop edge.
 16. The container according to claim 10, wherein said firstand second panels are secured by an adhesive at one or more regionsoutside said central regions thererof.
 17. The container according toclaim 10, further comprising a cutout recess located in a top edge ofsaid divider.
 18. The container according to claim 17, wherein saidstep-shaped cutout recess is positioned at the top edge of said centralportion of said divider.
 19. The container according to claim 17,wherein said cutout recess is step-shaped.
 20. The container accordingto claim 1, wherein said one or more lines of weakening are in form ofat least one member selected from the group consisting of a fold line, ascore line, a perforated line, a full cut line, a partial cut line, andan embossed line.